Minnesota Then
The Mission
To inspire and connect communities by bringing local history to life through engaging, accessible digital experiences that meet people exactly where they are.
The Concept
History Without Boundaries
Traditional museums confine history to galleries and display cases. The Museum Without Walls takes a different approach: placing narratives, voices, and events exactly where they unfolded. By turning the state itself into an exhibit space, the past becomes a living, accessible part of the present landscape. No tickets. No operating hours. No physical barriers.
Who’s Behind It
An independent project, built by one historian.
Minnesota Then is an independent, free history project created and run by Matt Reicher. Matt grew up on St. Paul’s East Side and holds a BA in History from Metropolitan State University and an MA in Museum Studies from the University of Oklahoma. He began his public history work as an intern and contributor for MNopedia.
Every article, map marker, and audio narration is researched, written, and built with the same goal: telling the stories of ordinary people and overlooked places, where they happened, for free.
Meet the team
The Purpose
Mission & Vision
Two commitments guiding every decision, from the stories selected to the technology built.
The Vision
To create inclusive, immersive educational experiences that use technology to reveal and celebrate Minnesota’s rich, diverse history, making the past a living part of the present.
The “Why”
History should be accessible to everyone.
Understanding local history strengthens the future. Making the past accessible helps people connect with their roots, learn from yesterday, and shape a better tomorrow.
This project was born from a desire to tell the stories of places that cannot always share their own past. History belongs to everyone, not just those able to visit traditional institutions. From early research to this digital platform, technology and thoughtful design bring Minnesota’s history to the fingertips of anyone exploring the state.
The Foundation
Guiding Principles
Four values shaping every story told, every feature built, and every community served.
Accessibility
Minnesota’s history is open to all, regardless of location or resources. No tickets, no hours, no walls between the past and the present.
Community
Strengthening connections through shared stories and collective memory. Built for Minnesotans, because every story matters.
Innovation
Using technology to create immersive, engaging encounters with the past that go beyond what traditional exhibits can do.
Education
Promoting understanding and curiosity through thoughtful historical content that gives context and meaning to the world around us.
The Impact
Creating Lasting Impact
Sharing history, from headline-making moments to the everyday events that shaped communities, creates real change. With each story shared and each voice heard, our understanding of the path that led to the present deepens.
Diverse perspectives and experiences offer insights that help build a stronger future. It is more than preserving the past. It is about bringing people together, sparking meaningful conversations, and strengthening connections between neighbors through the shared Minnesota story.
The Method
The Approach
From the first archival document to the moment a story unlocks at a specific set of coordinates: how Minnesota’s history comes to life.
1
Research & Documentation
Researching and documenting Minnesota’s history from diverse sources and perspectives, ensuring accuracy and depth in every narrative.
2
Digital Preservation
Transforming historical content into engaging, accessible digital formats that combine narrative, audio, and imagery for modern audiences.
3
Place-Based Experiences
Connecting stories to real places using GPS, so history comes alive at the exact coordinates where the events occurred.
4
Community Engagement
Involving communities in preserving their own stories to build a more inclusive, authentic historical record for future generations.
Our Standards
Editorial Standards
Local history only matters if it’s accurate. These are the standards behind every story on Minnesota Then.
Sourced
Stories are built from primary and contemporary sources, such as newspapers, archives, records, and firsthand accounts, and not from repeated legend.
Cited
Facts, dates, and quotations are traceable to their sources. Guest contributors are held to the same standard and must cite their work.
Credited
Historic images and materials are credited to their sources, with a description of what they show.
Corrected
History is rarely settled. When a reader or a new source shows something is wrong, we correct it and say so.
Found an error or have a source we missed? Tell us. Corrections are welcome and taken seriously.
The Journey
From Thesis Project to Museum Without Walls
A decade of research, experimentation, and persistence, distilled into the platform available today.
2016
Project Founded
Originated as a post-grad thesis project with a simple goal: sharing local history on a community level and making the past relevant to the present.
2020
The Blog Launched
In-depth articles began, covering Minnesota’s past: true crime, grand homes, forgotten landmarks, and the people who shaped the state.
2022
Expansion into Multimedia
The Museum Without Walls project entered active development, combining GPS, audio narration, and archival research into a single experience.
2025
Browser-Based Platform Released
The Museum Without Walls v1 beta went live, opening Minnesota history to everyone, everywhere, for free. No app download required.
2026
Minnesota Then Press
Minnesota Then Press published its first book, Slo Is Pro, the story of Minnesota’s professional slow-pitch softball experiment.
The Imprint
Minnesota Then Press
Minnesota Then Press is the publishing arm of Minnesota Then, bringing the same research and sourcing standards to book-length local history.
Our First Title
Slo Is Pro
The Goofy’s, the Norsemen, and Minnesota’s Great Professional Softball Experiment
In 1977, someone decided to charge admission to a game every Minnesotan already played. A book about a bad idea, a good team, and a game Minnesota loved just the way it was.
About the book
For Everyone
Accessibility Statement
Minnesota Then is built on the idea that history belongs to everyone, and that includes how this site works. We aim to keep it usable by as many people as possible, on any device. Among the ways we do that:
- Pages work on phones, tablets, and desktops, and text can be enlarged or zoomed.
- Images include descriptive text, and exhibits pair audio narration with a written version of the story.
- Pages can be navigated by keyboard, with visible focus indicators.
- Animations are reduced for visitors who set their device to prefer less motion.
We are an independent project and don’t claim to be perfect. If something on this site is hard for you to use, please let us know and we will work to fix it.
Questions, corrections, or a story to share?
Minnesota Then is free to use and independent by design. Reach out anytime, or help keep the work free for everyone.